South Carolina General Assembly
112th Session, 1997-1998

Bill 3828


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       3828
Type of Legislation:               General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19970403
Primary Sponsor:                   Harrell
All Sponsors:                      Harrell, R. Smith, Whatley,
                                   H. Brown, Limehouse, Altman, Boan,
                                   Wilkins, Campsen and Kirsh 
Drafted Document Number:           pt\1101dw.97
Residing Body:                     Senate
Current Committee:                 Education Committee 04
                                   SED
Date of Last Amendment:            19970430
Subject:                           High school graduates, Superior
                                   Academic Achievement diploma,
                                   scholarships; School districts,
                                   Students



History


Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________
Senate  19970501  Introduced, read first time,             04 SED
                  referred to Committee
House   19970501  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19970430  Amended, read second time
House   19970430  Request for debate by Representative             Robinson
                                                                   Loftis
                                                                   Inabinett
                                                                   Lloyd
                                                                   Harrell
                                                                   Hamilton
                                                                   Townsend
                                                                   Walker
                                                                   J. Brown
                                                                   Stuart
                                                                   Campsen
House   19970424  Committee report: Favorable with         21 HEPW
                  amendment
House   19970403  Introduced, read first time,             21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

AMENDED

April 30, 1997

H. 3828

Introduced by Reps. Harrell, R. Smith, Whatley, H. Brown, Limehouse, Altman, Boan, Wilkins, Campsen and Kirsh

S. Printed 4/30/97--H.

Read the first time April 3, 1997.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-101 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OF THIS STATE WHO MEET CERTAIN SPECIFIED CRITERIA SHALL RECEIVE A SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND ALSO SHALL RECEIVE A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND ANY STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-39-101. (A) For the purpose of recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance and academic achievement on the part of school students, each public or nonpublic high school graduate who meets the requirements of this section beginning with the 1997-98 school year must be awarded a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements (STAR) High School Diploma.

(B) In order to qualify for a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements High School Diploma a student, who has completed the college prep track, shall complete at least twenty-four units as prescribed by the State Board of Education including:

(1) four units of English or language arts;

(2) four units of mathematics;

(3) four units of science;

(4) four units of social science or history, one unit of which must be U.S. History;

(5) two units of foreign or classical languages;

(6) one unit of computer science beginning with school year 1999-2000, and until school year 1999-2000, one additional elective unit must be completed instead of a unit in computer science;

(7) one unit of the arts or music, provided that a third unit of foreign or classical language may be substituted for this arts or music requirement;

(8) one unit of physical education or health; and

(9) three elective units.

No course in which the student receives a pass-fail grade may be counted in the student's twenty-four units required by this subsection.

(C) In order to qualify for a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements High School Diploma a student, who has completed the tech prep track, shall complete at least twenty-four units as prescribed by the State Board of Education including:

(1) four units of English or language arts;

(2) four units of mathematics;

(3) three units of science;

(4) three units of social science or history, one unit of which must be U.S. History;

(5) two units of foreign or classical languages;

(6) one unit of computer science beginning with school year 1999-2000, and until school year 1999-2000, one additional elective unit must be completed instead of a unit in computer science;

(7) four units of occupational specialty courses;

(8) one unit of physical education or health; and

(9) two elective units.

(D) A student who receives a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements High School Diploma and attends a public or private South Carolina institution of higher learning or technical college whose main campus and headquarters are located in South Carolina shall receive a five hundred dollar scholarship from the State paid to the institution. The State Department of Education shall furnish the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program of the Commission on Higher Education with a list of those students each year who are awarded Superior Technology or Academic Requirements Diplomas. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program shall then distribute the scholarship funds on behalf of such students at the appropriate institutions.

(E) Each district school board of trustees and the administrators of each nonpublic school are encouraged to make provisions, through appropriate and adequate course offerings in each high school or through cooperative arrangements with other schools, for students desiring to receive a Superior Academic Achievement High School Diploma.

(F) The State Board of Education is authorized to promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of this section. These regulations shall include specific course requirements and may also establish alternatives to any area of study or course of study specified herein, provided that the adopted curriculum framework demonstrates that the alternative authorized is equivalent or more advanced.

(G) In order to qualify for a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements Diploma, a student must maintain an aggregate numerical grade average of at least 90 for grades 9-12. No numerical grade average may include a pass-fail grade."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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